France await Morocco as Saibari drives the quarterfinal charge

France in the quarterfinal Thursday

This is the one. Morocco face France in the World Cup quarterfinal on Thursday, July 9 (1). Your team earned it by brushing Canada aside 3–0 on Saturday, with Ismael Saibari central again (1). France reached the same stage by edging Paraguay 1–0 later that evening (1) (3). These two met at the 2022 semifinal. Four years on, Morocco are back.

Saibari keeps delivering

The man who buried the Netherlands from the spot now has his fingerprints all over this run. Saibari scored in every group stage game and converted in the shootout against the Dutch. Against Canada in the round of 16 he was at the heart of a 3–0 win (1). Nobody in this squad is carrying more momentum into the France match.

Mbappé: 'We know how to get our hands dirty'

France's captain did not sugarcoat the Paraguay performance. "We knew what kind of match we were going to have," Kylian Mbappé said. "But we know how to get our hands dirty" (3). France struggled to break Paraguay down and needed a single goal to advance. Morocco's coaching staff will have watched that with interest.

Tchouaméni a doubt for Thursday

Aurélien Tchouaméni missed the Paraguay match through injury and his availability for the quarterfinal is uncertain (9). The midfielder is a key piece for Didier Deschamps. If he cannot go, the French midfield looks lighter.

Yellow card cloud over Olise

Deschamps has moved to calm Michael Olise about his yellow card situation. Another booking against Morocco would rule him out of a potential semifinal. France are appealing to FIFA to have the existing card wiped (10). It is the kind of administrative sideshow that signals concern inside their camp.

Bouaddi chose Morocco over France

Ayyoub Bouaddi could have worn the blue shirt on Thursday. The young midfielder has French roots but declared for Morocco, a decision French football figures have called "a big loss" for Les Bleus (5). He will face the country he turned down with a semifinal spot at stake.

Belhanda: both teams stronger than 2022

Younès Belhanda and analyst Said Amdaa have been comparing the two sides ahead of Thursday. Their verdict: both France and Morocco are better than the versions that met in Qatar (4). The rematch has four years of evolution baked in.

Dumfries on the Dutch exit

Denzel Dumfries opened up about the penalty shootout loss to Morocco. "That is when you really realize it is over," the Dutch full-back said (11). The moment still reverberates on both sides.